Room to Stretch
Varying regional demands mean automakers competing globally cannot rely on a one-size-fits-all strategy. In China, buyers place a premium on interior space, which helps explain why luxury minivans like the Toyota Alphard are popular there. Even the Tesla Model Y is sold in a long-wheelbase version that provides a three-row, six-seat configuration, a variant that later arrived in the U.S.
Now, BMW is continuing this approach with long-wheelbase versions of the all-new X5 and iX5. These models are designed specifically for China, with a greater emphasis on rear-seat comfort. After all, BMW executives have said that further improving the X5’s off-road capabilities wasn’t a priority, so the extension should be a welcome addition.
The X5 Goes Long
Compared with global X5 models, the China-spec version has a wheelbase that is 130 mm (5.1 inches) longer, bringing the total to 3,165 mm (124.6 inches). That wheelbase is longer than the current X7’s, though the flagship SUV could grow when its next-generation version arrives in 2027. The stretched X5 also features a redesigned front end, as well as adaptive two-axle air suspension as standard.
The longer wheelbase not only provides a more comfortable and stable driving experience, but also creates more space for passengers.
The interiors will feature a China-specific design with “streamlined surfaces and refined decorative elements.” But perhaps the highlight is the next iteration of the BMW Theatre Screen, the large rear-passenger display first seen in the 7 Series (G70). It should complement the roomier interior and create the chauffeur-driven experience many Chinese buyers look for in a car.
Meanwhile, the all-electric iX5 has a CLTC-estimated range of more than 1,000 km (621 miles). That’s about 186 miles more than the U.S.-spec iX5’s preliminary EPA-estimated range of 435 miles.
No Passport to America
The Bavarian automaker says the long-wheelbase X5 and iX5 are tailored exclusively to China and will launch there in 2027, though reports cited by BMWBLOG suggest that the model could eventually make its way to India.
As for whether the stretched version could arrive in the U.S. like the Tesla Model Y L, that idea seems far-fetched. BMW previously ruled out long-wheelbase models for North America because of expected low demand. The China-market X5 is also produced separately from the global model, which is built at the Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant alongside other SUVs such as the X3.
